Clock of dynasty clicks in Tamil Nadu

On Tamil poet Vairamuthu's advice to M Karunanidhi's sons MK Stalin and MK Azhagiri that they should consider themselves two hands of a clock, the DMK patriarch told the DMK youth wing conference in Tirunelveli on Sunday (December 16, 2007): "I don't mind which hand is longer or faster as long as the clock shows the correct time." As of now, Karunanidhi's political clock is working fine, with a third hand -- his daughter Kanimozhi -- completing the dial of dynasty.

By proclaiming that "your expectations will soon come true," Karunanidhi was only confirming that Stalin's coronation will happen sooner than later. And Stalin, in all fairness, deserves it (though there are other deserving candidates). Having obtained his political passport during Emergency, the 54-year-old has steadily worked his way up the ladder, as the DMK youth wing leader, legislator, Chennai mayor and DMK deputy general secretary. His only serious challenge within the party was Vaiko. With Vaiko's expulsion in 1993, decks were cleared for Stalin's unhindered ascent.

The rise of Stalin's elder brother MK Azhagiri has been more questionable owing to its 'extra-constitutional' nature. Presiding over a virtual fiefdom in Madurai and surrounding districts in south Tamil Nadu, Azhagiri has more than a say when it comes to selection of party candidates and ministers. By not giving him an official post in the party, Karunanidhi has sought to evade charges of dynastic rule, but it is no secret that the Madurai son's tentacles reach up to Fort St George, the seat of power in Chennai.

The least expected was the entry of Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi in politics, partly by default and partly be design. After a dramatic turn of events cost Dayanidhi Maran (whom Karunanidhi launched on the eve of the 2004 general elections) his ministerial berth and his grand uncle's goodwill, Kanimozhi was handpicked to be Karunanidhi's eyes and ears in Delhi. A Rajya Sabha member, Kanimozhi may not have to wait too long before she lands a ministerial berth.

Not many have forgotten Karunanidhi's futlie efforts to launch his eldest son MK Muthu into movies and politics as an alternative to MGR . Addressing the valedictory meeting of the DMK youth wing, Karunanidhi spoke about the virtues of a good father. The DMK patriarch is one.

Not a post script, this

This blog, as its name suggests, is a post script. So, pardon me, dear readers, this is an aberration brought about by circumstances.

As I start writing this, it is 5.15 pm (December 16, 2007). M Karunanidhi, father of MK Stalin and chief minister of Tamil Nadu, is to speak at the DMK youth wing conference in Tirunelveli three hours from now (he will be late). For all those expecting an announcement from the DMK patriarch, I present this: There won't be anything substantial. MK Stalin will leave the imposing podium as MK Stalin, the deputy general secretary of the party, the local administration minister. Nothing more. Nothing less.

There won't be a coronation, but Karunanidhi will say that Stalin deserves the crown. Not without reason. Starting his political career in 1967 as an under-aged campaigner for his cousin Murasoli Maran, Stalin has worked his way up the party ladder. Stalin launched himself into the political limelight during Emergency, when he was jailed. As a party worker, legislator and Chennai Mayor, Stalin has enough to substantiate his ascent to the throne. Arcot Veersamy, a senior leader and Karunanidhi's lieutanant, is on the record that "the party is ready to accept Stalin as its leader."

Despite all the rolling-the-red-carpet, there won't be a 'pattabhishekam' for one reason: The DMK is insecure at the thought of Karunanidhi retiring. They tried this in 2001 when Stalin was asked to run the election machinary. He failed. He learnt a bit after that.

This is the first time DMK president M Karunanidhi has allowed any of its front organisations to have a separate state conference. And the youth wing, which came into being in 1980 with Stalin at the helm, made it really huge. But Karunanidhi's shoes are still too big for Stalin. Some day, somehow, he has to step into them. And then, the DMK will shrink, if not split.

Post post script: Karunanidhi himself has been reiterating that "elders should give way to the youth." If the DMK is to put this to practice at the Tirunelveli conference, it is more likely that Stalin passes on the youth wing baton to a younger leader than Karunanidhi giving way to Stalin.

Anbumani Ramadoss: his father's son

Or, why the health minister continues to court controversies





First things first. Anbumani Ramadoss (40) is married, has three daughters and, unlike some politicians from Tamil Nadu, monogamous. That should put an end to the dreams of parents who may have misread the intentions of scores of MBBS girls 'proposing' to the handsome health minister. That may not, however, stop Ramadoss from courting controversies.

From 'scare messages' on cigarrette packs to one-year compulsory rural posting for medicos to better lifestyle for BPO employees, virtually every prominent proposal from the health minister has spurred protests, controversies and showdowns. And the Big Fight has gone from one of doubtful intentions to the ridiculous, with Parliament bringing in a Bill apparently aimed at a single person.

Not many would question the political correctness of compulsory rural posting and the fight against tobacco. Just that Ramadoss, while trying put his foot down, does not watch his steps in realpolitik. What else explains his statement that BPO employees are a group of youngsters who smoke, drink and do late nights? (It had Nasscon president Kiran Karnik protesting). Or his statement that some politicians (there were enough indications that Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi was in the list) are hand in glove with the tobacco lobby?

The health minister has clearly inherited those genes of politically dangerous defiance from his father and PMK founder S Ramadoss, who is having a running feud with Karunanidhi, even while continuing in the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). And all those preaching against drinking and smoking was part of Ramadoss' political upbringing. Before his entry into politics, the MBBS graduate was groomed in 'Pasumai Thayagam,' an environment conservation group his father started.

For one who has seen his father building up a political party since 1989 -- and managing to be always with the winning alliance in the state -- on the curious combination of caste, Tamil nationalism, morality and defiance, it was only natural for Ramadoss junior to adopt at least the last two as ingredients of political success.


But the son has not realised that while his father has not tried the recipe outside Tamil Nadu, he is dealing with a different crowd in a different time. Father Ramadoss, while enjoying ultimate power as the head of a party of committed cadres, has never been a minister. In other words, he enjoys power without public scrutiny. Son Ramadoss has no ultimate power in a coaltion government and is under immense public scrutiny. When he refuses to acknowledge this reality, controversies become an inevitable corollary.

Please, doctor, don't kill

I swear by Apollo physician and Asclepius and Hygeia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that a large number of doctors and medicos across India are making it virtually impossible to distinguish between the Hippocratic Oath and a hypocrite's oath.

Today (December 3, 2007), at least six children admitted to the Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad died reportedly owing to lack of medical attention as doctors went on a 'flash strike,' demanding action against a legislator who attacked them. Medicos across Tamil Nadu -- and now I hear, those in Maharashtra too -- are boycotting classes against the proposed compulsory one-year rural posting. In Kerala, hospitals are paralyased as doctors are on strike demanding pay hike. In the last 65 days the doctors have been on strike, 59 doctors have been suspended. There is no official number of patients affected.

There is no arguing the fact that doctors are as much Homo sapiens (veterinarians are, for once, on a higher pedestal here) as their patients and their political bosses. They have their rights. They have their grievances. Having an MBBS graduate as health minister has not helped them much. And if you don't believe me on this, ask former director of the AIIMS Dr P Venugopal. But when it comes to the form of protest, we come to a conundrum. I would happily gift a red flag to the tiller when the zaminder refuses to pay for his toil. But I shudder when a doctor lays down his stethescope in protest.

In the context of strikes, there is an eerie similarity between a naxalite with a sword and a surgeon without a scalpel. Both kill -- one by his action and the other by his inaction. "So," doctors say, "what do we do when all other protests fail?" When the answer is not easy, it may sound preposterous: Try mobilising all segments (and there is none not benefited by doctors) in your support, if your cause is genuine. Keep trying all forms of democratic protest but strike. Please don't kill.